Badminton Asia Championship: Frustrating losses for Sindhu, Kiran George and Priyanshu Rajawat
Of India’s singles lot at the Badminton Asia Championship, Kiran George probably raised the most hopes. Though PV Sindhu dragged Akane Yamaguchi to three sets at Ningbo, China, and announced her intent to stay on the hamster wheel, till she could sneak out a Top 10 scalp or two and hit the next gear. But frustration was the theme of India’s remaining singles in the Round of 16 as none managed to make the quarterfinals.
Indian singles hasn’t really had anything to celebrate since HS Prannoy’s World Championship bronze in 2023 and Lakshya Sen’s Olympic semifinals. But Thursday was particularly aggravating for Indian reactions to routine swatting aside by Top 10 opponents. Prannoy and Lakshya Sen had lost on Day 1.
The fight has gone out of Indian singles, and neither Sindhu’s flickering aggression as she struck the shuttle high to push the pace, nor Kiran’s persistent and consistency undone at the finish almost casually by Kunlavut Vitidsarn, offered any hope of things improving for India. The Sudirman Cup incoming storm looks ominous, with the only hope that energies are being preserved for that team event and big stage.
But Kiran George and Priyanshu Rajawat had no such excuse, not being part of that squad. Their frustration was plain helplessness.
Priyanshu especially, invited some pretty animated ire from courtside coach Guru Saidutt, as he was packed off 21-14, 21-17 by Japanese fifth seed Kodai Naraoka. Now, Kodai is the toughest of opponents in best of times, because he makes no mistakes and can outlast you in a blinking war even when you are gung-ho about endurance. Attacking and deceptive games bother him, and Priyanshu has both those, but not the discipline to earn the chance to display his skills.
The point for 10-14 in the first set, is something Priyanshu ought to watch whenever he’s bored or restless or dismayed or all of those. It will stir a mini rage that mini-Sriki as he is known, can jolt him awake from the funk he finds himself in. When he’s fit and competing, he simply cannot afford to donate points like at 10-14.
The Indian had the Japanese all tangled and committed the wrong way into a dive, with his strategic deception. He had a full half court at his disposal to nail a smash, with absolutely no chance of Kodai getting anywhere on that flank. And then, he casually sent the smash wide, played with neither control nor even needing courage to go for the lines. When easy points are frittered from inaccuracy, not down to being imbalanced or rushed, there is a reliability issue. There was no need for flair or expansive overheating power. The 10-14, could have been an 11-13, and saved him heartbreak. But the botched smash, means Priyanshu continues to play like Srikanth, minus a single Super Series title.
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When a hurting net push finally met the net, he would leap in teeth-gritting frustration, as he exited in straight sets. The time for nailing the shot was on the easier smash.
Kiran George was on the other end of the spectrum, playing absolutely swell. Speed, tactics, placement, variations from the back, plenty of heart, the Bangalorean had it all going against World Champion and Olympic finalist Kunlavut Vitidsarn.
From 15-11 up in opener, Kiran had stumbled to 15-18 down, but mopped up his mess to take the opener 21-19. He was playing well, though allowing Kunlavut an opening, losing the second 21-13 meant the Indian was walking onto the Thai’s turf. Kunlavut has a monkish temperament and combines that with monster variety in his clean, technical game. He is heir apparent, and outwitting him takes a deeper understanding of badminton that Kiran displayed in the third, staying level till 11-11.
But much like Sindhu (of now) and Priyanshu, Kiran simply did not have the game to finish out a set. The Top Tenners smoothly switch gears and up their ante post the 11-point interval, and though Kiran tested Kunlavut for speed with feisty rallies and crisp hitting, he didn’t have the stamina to see each skirmish through. The Top 10s demand outstanding endurance levels, and none of the Indians are up to scratch, to stay competitive in an endgame.
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Kiran’s moment of frustration as Kunlavut raced to 20-16 from 17-16, came on the match winning point. Kiran had strung him along a diagonal, and the Thai was backtracking right from a lunge to the left when he intercepted the shuttle almost stumbling, sticking his racquet out, and got an improbable point. Kiran was left throwing his own racquet up in the air, knowing his best wasn’t quite enough, as he went down 19-21, 21-12, 21-16.
As for PV Sindhu, she did well to pick the mid 21-16, after a slow start of 12-21. Yamaguchi can retrieve endlessly but the frame differential also means that Sindhu can keep her under pressure by making her run around. But the winners will need to come from power smashes, and Sindhu’s attack is at two clicks lower than what’s needed. She may defend well, and mix variations, play smart to prolong the match, but Yamaguchi can only be bullied with power. Even on half tilt, the Japanese still picks most shuttles, and speed doesn’t daunt her.
Power can both punctuate and puncture Yamaguchi. But Sindhu’s smashes miss that sting of yore. She’s hanging in there and Irwansyah is clearly a good coaching influence on her. But Akane Yamaguchi will not be felled by semi pace and one-third patience. She needs power at full throttle.